Gone Piping Emagazine Schoolofpiping.Com

Gone Piping eMagazine schoolofpiping.com

February 2021

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Fáilte: First of all we would like to wish all of our readers all the very best for 2021. Obviously covis-19 is still the main issue this year and as a result it would seem that most of the international piping events would again be cancelled. Online contests seem to have become commonplace and as an educational institute we are very grateful for them so that our students have something to aim for. These have given our students some new perspective into their playing and made them look at other aspects like recoding and focus on sound quality. It never hurts to have a change of perspective and to be forced to listen critically to ones own performances. Our website, www.schoolofpiping.com is an Internet based resource for pipers. It contains an archive of technical articles, reviews, historical information, photographic albums, sound files and video files that are freely available to pipers everywhere. Most importantly it includes a Shop that supports the work we do to promote and educate piping around the world. Please feel free to pass this magazine on to any that might benefit or enjoy reading it with our compliments.

Brett Tidswell

ADVERTISING To advertise your business or product in this magazine contact: [email protected] Unbeatable rates and huge exposure. Copyright © 2021 School of Piping/Brett Tidswell All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of the editor.

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Contents:

VALE: James Haddow McIntosh MBE. Page 3 A tribute to Jimmy McIntosh.

Corrienessan’s Salute. Page 8 Stories behind the tunes.

Look the Part. Page 11 We look at appropriate headdress for piping events.

What’s at the School of Piping Shop? Page 18 A detailed look at what is currently available at the SoP shop.

Review – Bagpipe Tutorial. Page 24 We review the latest tutor book to come out of Germany.

Ezeedrone Reed Combinations. Page 27 A look at what the latest combinations have to offer.

The Little Cascade. Page 31 The composer and the real story behind the tune.

R U Brown Events for 2021. Page 35 An update on the 2021 events.

Classifieds. Page 37 Adverts for anything piping related!

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The Ultimate Guide to Bagpipe Reeds

Purchase “The Reed Book – DVD-Rom” at: http://www.schoolofpiping.com/shop/advanced_publications.html Also available direct from stockists and various reed makers.

What others have to say about the Reed Book DVD-Rom! “I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about reeds, how they are made, how they work and how to adjust them for whatever result you require.” Shawn Husk- Reedmaker “I doubt that there is another product that covers so well what this DVD covers – highly recommended.” P/M Bill Robertson - ex The Royal Scots I have gone through the DVD-Rom thoroughly and find its layout superb...user friendly and a timely addition to your text. This should be a recommended referral for all pipers, especially the experienced who are often in need of true and tried methods... many thanks and all the best. Ken Eller – Canada A Must Have Item For Every Piper

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James Haddow McIntosh MBE

James Haddow McIntosh was born in Broughty Ferry, Scotland in 1925. At an early age, Jimmy’s father had arranged for him to receive piping tuition from P/M Tom Sutherland, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Jimmy joined the local pipe band. In 1939, and the legendary Pipe Major Willie Ross came to Dundee for a month, courtesy of The Piobaireachd Society, and Jimmy’s father enrolled the 14-year-old Jimmy for lessons. In October that same year, Jimmy’s father enlisted him as a boy piper in the Cameron Highlanders. At this time, Willie Young, a pupil of Robert Meldrum, was Pipe Major. It would be Willie Young who gave Jimmy his first introduction to ceòl mòr. This was followed in 1941 by tuition from P/M Donald MacLeod, after the regimental amalgamation with the Seaforth Highlanders. MacLeod was still going to John MacDonald, Inverness, regularly at that time. Jimmy was also sent to the Army School of Piping at Edinburgh Castle where he underwent further tuition with P/M Willie Ross.

James Haddow McIntosh MBE Returning to Tayside, Jimmy took a job as an engineer with National Cash Register (NCR), played with Mackenzie Pipe Band for a short time then started the pipe band at NCR, which saw much success at the top end of Grade 2.

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When talking to a Dundee friend, Peter Forbes, Jimmy was persuaded to have another go at solo competing, something he hadn’t done since his Army days. From 1965 he had lessons from Bob Brown, Balmoral. This was to be a transformational experience for him and thereafter he dedicated himself to the study of ceòl mòr. After a couple of years, Brown had Malcolm McRae join Jimmy in the lessons much in the same way that John MacDonald had Bob Nicol combine his lessons. When Brown died in 1972, Jimmy and Malcolm then went to Bob Nicol.

Jimmy McIntosh on his Vimeo channel Jimmy McIntosh won all the major solo piping competitions. He won the Gold Medal at Oban in 1978 (playing The Big Spree) and at Inverness in 1971 (Tulloch Ard) and in 1974 was the winner of the very first Glenfiddich, which in those days was called the Grants Piping Championship. Years later, he was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen and then he was also awarded the Balvenie Medal for his services to piping. Around this time, Murray Henderson, who had been going to Jimmy for a few years, went into the reed-making business with him. In the mid-1970s, Jimmy was part of a group that started the Competing Pipers’ Association. He was elected as their first President. Malcolm MacRae was elected as Vice-President, Hugh MacCallum Secretary and Tom Speirs as Treasurer. Jimmy immigrated to the US in 1982 and set up a piping concern. He had a huge and immediate impact on piping there and in North America as a whole. Many of his pupils became very successful internationally. During his early time in the States, Jimmy was elected President of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association and put in place an efficient and thorough review of its judging and competing processes. In 1985, he assumed the position as director of the pipe band at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Piping had been part of campus life there since 1939. The position included

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overseeing the University’s move to have the instrument as a legitimate major in its Conservatory of Music. Jimmy produces a significant quantity of resources in the field of ceòl mòr, including a CD of 7 tunes, a Book of pieces in the “Balmoral” style, a tutorial video and a Vimeo channel of piobaireachd tuition through the EUSPBA. This is a tremendous collection of valuable resources. Jimmy always had a close connection with the R U Brown Piobaireachd Society in South Australia. Not just because of his time as a student of Bob Brown, but also personal friendships with members. He worked at the NCR with past secretary Moyra Smith and Alex Kerr used to play in the NCR band under Jimmy. He first came and judged at the Gold Medal event in 1981 and the again in 2004. His presence was greatly appreciated and his tutorials and individual sessions with players were always well spoken of. Jimmy even called to ask if he could record any tunes for us on his Vimeo channel, which he very kindly did. He was a true gentleman and a master musician. Jimmy McIntosh will be sadly missed by all of us who knew him.

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McCallum Bagpipes

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Corrienessan’s Salute

This tune is similar to “The Harp Tree” and has been a firm favourite with Pipers since it was found on a loose piece of paper with Angus MacKay’s manuscript, which Dr Charles Bannatyne acquired from the widow of Michael MacCarfrae, piper to the Duke of Hamilton. The name was linked to some scribblings on the paper but it links in rather well with a poem by Iain Dall MacKay, the blind piper, in which he describes a journey from Tongue to the West Coast and relates how the MacKays used to organize deer hunting and feasting at Corrienessan, which means a hollow with the waterfall.

These feastings, which appear to have been held every second year, were attended by Clan Chiefs from near and far. Even from Ireland, Scandinavia and Europe. Having walked over the area near the Lodge of Gobermuisgach, there is a hollow; Corrie Ghrainde, which is at right angles to Corrienessan and the high ground between the heads of the two corries is a surprisingly large flat area. Corrie Ghrainde is an ideal “Elick”; that is a very steep U shaped hollow that ends abruptly at a vertical wall. Deer were driven up into this hollow believing they were escaping into a remote area, not knowing that in such a confined space the staghounds would have a relatively easy task in pulling them down.

Staghounds in action

The composer is not known and it would be tempting to ascribe it to one of the MacKays but the simple melody indicates an even older origin. In the 1920’s Dr. Charles Bannatyne reconstructed the tune into the form played today. To say that he did a first-class job of restoration is to make an understatement.

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Look the Part Headdress Moving on from our last article about foot wear, we move up to the other end and look at how head dress shouyld be worn. There are three common items normally worn by the piper. A Glengarry, a Bonnet, Balmoral or Tam o’Shanter and a Feather Bonnet. The Glengarry is worn, centred on the head about 2 fingers width above the left eyebrow and tilted to the right, sitting about 1 finger width above the right eyebrow. If worn straight and too loose it may incline to the left as it is worn, which is totally undesirable. It should not be worn back further on the head. It is rare to see a band that manages to keep all headdress centred while playing for any period of time. It is interesting to note that the dress regulations for the new ‘Royal Regiment of Scotland’ states that the Glengarry should be canted to the wearer’s right side. So the trend of wearing it level has been abandoned in favour of the traditional method, although this should not be taken too far. The Glengarry should be stored flat and the tails should be pressed flat. The badge should be firmly affixed to the rosette (through the hat) and cleaned and brushed with a clothes brush as appropriate. White sweat marks around the band are best removed with a damp flannel cloth. With evening dress it is generally not appropriate to wear any form of head wear indoors.

The Glengarry The Bonnet or Balmoral is worn in a similar fashion with the right side turned down over the right ear. Sometimes they can also be turned down at the front depending on the manufacture of the hat. The Badge is worn on the left side of the head. There is a bow or

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ribbons that are worn at the rear; this will give some indication of where the badge is intended to be worn as it is generally affixed to the rosette through the left side of the hat. The hat should be moulded and the turned down side should not stand out like a “sore thumb”. This can be done by first wetting the hat and then moulding the shape before allowing it to dry. The shape will then be retained if the hat is well stored. Ribbons at the rear of the hat will be sewn to hang flat, ir they are now, the idea is that they should be tied in a bow and control the size of the hat band.

The Balmoral The Feather Bonnet The Feather Bonnet is also worn about 2 fingers width above the left eyebrow and tilted to the right, sitting about 1 finger width above the right eyebrow. The modern trend is often to wear it more square on the head, but never sloping to the left or worn back on the head. The tails should be pressed flat and the bonnet is best stored by hanging it upside down by the chin strap to keep it full and prevent it from getting crushed in a box. The feather bonnet should be worn with full no. 1 dress and only when a plaid and horse hair sporran is worn. Never in shirt sleeves.

Remember these points and you will look the part and establish some credibility. It is rare to see a top level performer or competitor who is not well presented. It reflects experience, attention to detail and a knowledge of our customs and culture.

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At the School of Piping Shop we can take care of all of your Piping and Highland Dress needs and desires!

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Bagpipes, chanters, practice chanters by David Naill and Co now available from the School of Piping Shop, contact us at: [email protected] to order.

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SCHOOL OF PIPING PRODUCTS http://www.schoolofpiping.com/shop.html

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What’s at the School of Piping Shop? ebay Store For the convenience of our customers we have an ebay store. Many of our products can be purchased there as well as from our site or calling us direct. You can visit the ebay store here: http://stores.ebay.com.au/schoolofpiping It is preferable to contact us direct at [email protected] to take advantage of the best service and advice. Chanter Reeds. In addition to our normal range we have now added G1 Platinum. These are excellent band and solo reeds. Donald McPhee chanter reeds are straight cut solo reeds with a broad tone and good Piobaireachd High G. We also have a large stock of Shepherd, Megarity and Melvin ridge cuts and Gilmour straight cut reeds at all times which are very stable, bright and excellent band reeds. From $18 ea. Reed cases also available for $15.

Drone Reeds. We are now stocking Ezeedrone Increased Absorbent Reeds ($139), Selbie Drone Reeds ($120), and the Kinnaird Evolution Reeds ($150), Canning Blue Reeds ($138) As always we have a large stock of Reeds from, Kinnaird, Canning, Ezeedrone, Crozier, MG. We can often mix and match bass drones with sets of tenor reeds.

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Practice Chanters. We have increased our range of Practice Chanters to include the McCallum P2 ($85) and P4 ($120), which are the standard and long length Chanters with no mounts. These are inexpensive, nice sounding and excellent for new learners. We retain a large stock of the imitation ivory mounted Chanters which look excellent and sound great ($130 and $150). We always stock the Logan’s Bagpipe Tutor with CD-Rom and we are happy to put together some packages for learners.

Logan’s Tutor with our supplementary learners guide on CD-Rom Pipe Chanters. We have the new David Naill and Co wood solo chanters in stock. These are very full, vibrant and well pitched. The Mk3 McCallum and MC2 are both excellent solo chanters. Enquire about our special prices for matching band sets of chanters. We also have the Mk3 Shepherd Chanters as played by Scottish Power, Shotts and Dykehead and Field Marshall Montgomery. Boderiou wood solo and the new poly Gandy Chanters which have a small hand spacing are all in stock. Pipe Chanter Caps. We currently stock chanter caps by McCallum, Moose and also the new Bagpipe Skin chanter caps. These are multi-coloured with a removable stopper to increase ventilation to the reed

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Pipe Bags and MCS. We are now supplying the Ross Leather Bag ($297) and New xtra comfort bags, Willie McCallum Bag ($290) from Bannatyne, as well as our usual stock of their composite zipper bags ($290). We now also stock the Bannatyne Moisture Control System ($125) and Dri-Flo ($90). This is an excellent system that provides a longer playing time, is easy to manage, dust free and completely airtight. We can tie on and set up the system for you, or you can do that for yourself. We also have the silica beads available separately if you would like to replace your existing desiccant with a cleaner, more effective, hassle free product. We now also stock Gannaway Bags, Bennett and Ross. Trap-Dri Moisture Control Systems are now in stock at $40 ea and the full system with bottle or closed hose for $57.

Tuners and Electronic Chanters. The Blair Professional HBT C1 is now in stock, this will tune the bagpipe to the correct scale. We have the Blair Electronic Chanter now in stock also.

Humifiers and Hygrometers. We are now stocking the Humistat adjustable Humidifiers that fit in your pipe case and maintain your instrument at a stable humidity level. Along with a hygrometer this is an excellent way to help prevent cracking, warping and shrinkage. At just $40 for the pair this is excellent insurance to protect your investment. This is an excellent accompaniment to our highly rated Makers Choice Range of oils and waxes. This includes, joint lube, exterior wax, bore oil and oiling rods.

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All of Your Piping Needs. We stock all piping accessories and are able to supply bagpipes from most of the Worlds premier makers. We always stock McCallum, MacRae, and Naill Bagpipes. We also have a number of vintage bagpipes available.

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We can also quote and supply any uniform or Drumming items and have access to a wide range of premium silver buckles, sgian dubhs and kilt pins at very reasonable prices.

Our full price list and catalogues can be viewed at www.schoolofpiping.com. Feel free to contact is anytime for advice or a quotation and any specific needs. [email protected].

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Bagpipe Tutorial - Review

Bagpipe Tutorial is a tutor book for absolute beginners of the Great Highland Bagpipe through to intermediate level pipers. It has been compiled by Andreas Hambsch a well know German piper who has completed his teaching examination with the College of Piping and has experience playing at the grade 1 level in Scotland.

Many pipers who have not spent time in Europe will be unaware of the flourishing piping scene in Germany and other European and Scandinavian countries. Workshops and schools give them access to some of the best teachers from the United Kingdom and across Europe.

The Bagpipe Tutorial Book

Andreas is the product of such learning and his book is well thought out and structured. It has a comprehensive system of exercises that goes well beyond the system needed to teach beginners to play the instrument. It goes on to provide access to computer apps available through Apple Store or Google play. These provide audio and visual aids that help to show how the movements, exercises and tunes are played. These have metronomic assistance as well as visual aids to help follow the notes and movements being played.

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The book follows a logical progression, with tune examples to follow the movements being taught. It has a very basic section on music theory, additional exercises and tunes. These are of quite a basic level. There is an article on memorization and piobaireachd movements are included.

This is without question one of the more advances tutors we have seen that has included so many modern visual aids to be able to assist the learner.

The production is high quality with magazine quality paper in A4 size. It has an all black and white interior, with descriptive photographs in the early stages. Overall I would say this is the direction that future quality tutor books will take.

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“THE COLLECTION” A compilation album by Brett Tidswell is now available for only $9.99 https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-collection/id398480644

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Ezeedrone Reed Combinations

Ezeedrone Reeds are made in Scotland by Pipe Dreams. They are almost a plug and play reed, but usually need some minor adjustment of the bridle and tuning screw. This is of course to be expected with most reeds.

The reed body is made of a cellulose compound and they have a very small plastic blade held in place by a rubber sleeve. Another rubber sleeve acts as a bridle and because of the small size of the blade; any small movement of the bridle creates a huge change in the reed, for this reason any adjustment should be made in the fractions of a millimetre.

For best results the rubber sleeve placed on the end of the reed to be seated in the drone should be removed and replaced with waxed hemp. I often see pipers who have hemped over the sleeve, or just use the rubber sleeve to seat the reed. These methods are very ineffective and a much better result can be achieved by seating the reed properly. The end of the reed has a long tapered section for hemping and they do seat very well in the drone.

There is a tuning screw in the closed end of the reed. These are very effective and I often see pipers add a little Teflon tape to the thread. Maybe a good idea, however I have never found one that leaked. The tenor tuning plugs are hollow and to gain a little more tuning

variance the plugs can be filled with blue-tac or a similar compound to further sharpen the pitch of the reed.

On the down side the bridles have a tendency to age and the reed will lose some stability. They are also susceptible to instability in very hot conditions, particularly the inverted bass drone. This appears to be the small blade being affected by heat. They also do not like to get moisture on the blade, so an effective moisture control system is highly recommended.

These reeds are deceptive. They are actually quite loud when measured on a decibel meter. However they have quite a refined tone and are used by many soloists. The tenors sound very cane like, but not bright and vibrant, more the sort of sound cane tenors give at the end of a long playing session. This gives a real “oneness” to the drone sound. Not many synthetic reeds can give that result. The bass is full of tonal depth and harmonics.

There are a lot of combinations available:

• Inverted reeds. These seemed to give a bit of a smoother, fuller sound in the drones that we tested in. • Longer reeds. These are for shaper drones that tune too high. • The standard bass reed we found to have a bit more “grunt” than the inverted reed but were a little harsh in some drones and not as stable. • The short Ezeedrone reeds are for a flatter bass drone that tunes too low. • The Increased Absorption Reeds have a body that soaks up more moisture. The tenors are a little more smoother than the normal Ezeedrones, but the bass is exceptional with great fullness of tone and incredible stability.

The latest combination among many top soloists and bands is the Increased Absorption Bass with standard tenors , this gives a very pleasing drone combination.

We were of the impression that these reeds became a little more air efficient with some playing and they definitely improved over the first week or so. Maybe it was a little refining, but the impression was that they liked to be “played in” a little.

More reviews can be found at http://www.schoolofpiping.com/reviews.html Ezeedrone Reeds can be purchased from:

http://www.schoolofpiping.com/shop/bagpipes_and_accessories.html

The Little Cascade

It has been said that, “George McLennan was the most complete piper of this century”. We know his competition record, which was outstanding and we also know the genius of his compositions. Tunes like “Mrs McPherson of Inveran” and “The Little Cascade” are timeless; they are as relevant and as exciting today as they were when they were first written. George McLennan, who would be known to the piping community as “GS” was born in Edinburgh to a family from Kilcoy on the Black Isle on the 9th February 1884. Taught by his father John, a Lieutenant in the Edinburgh Police, GS (who did not walk until he was four and a half), started piping at age four. He also received tuition from his uncle, Pipe Major John Stewart of the Black Watch and the iconic piper John MacDougall Gillies.

Pipe Major G S McLennan 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders Despite suffering polio as a child GS won many prizes for piping and dancing. At 15 years of age his father sent him off to start life as a boy piper in the Gordon Highlanders. He won the Highland Society of London Gold medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in 1904 and at the

Northern Meeting in 1905. GS had risen to the position of Pipe Major of the 1st Gordon Highlanders by the age of 21 in 1905. GS spent the first few years of the Great War at the Gordon’s depot, but was mobilised to the trenches in France late in the war. On the 14th May, 1918 he became ill. Two days later he played the Gordon Highlanders over the top, some days later he collapsed and it is said the illness never left him. He returned to the trenches and began making reeds for fellow pipers. He was discharged from service in 1922. After being discharged GS set up a Bagpipe making business in Aberdeen which he continued until his untimely death by lung cancer in 1929 at the age of 46. This was common among veterans of the trenches. He was laid to rest at the Echo Bank cemetery in Edinburgh with Robert Reid a great friend and fellow competitor playing his favourite piobaireachd, “Lament for the Children”. Just before his death, GS published a collection of his tunes, which is still available almost 100 years after most them were written. Many of the tunes have been published over and over in many of the books of standard settings. There are many stories of how the reel known as “The Little Cascade” came to be. DR MacLennan related the tale of his brother GS and James “Robbie” Robertson returning the barracks one evening and on hearing a tap dripping into a tin basin GS immediately asked for quiet and recorded the sound in a few inspired bars. However George McLennan recalls playing at home with his brother when their father quietened them and told them to listen to “the music” and pointed out the rhythmical pattern of drops of water from a tap into a porcelain sink. From the draft manuscripts, we know that one of these occasions was July 1917.

There is no doubt that both occasions produced elements of this phenomenal reel. The final two parts were written on a train en route to Captain C.M. Usher’s wedding in December 1919. One of the early jottings for this tune reveals that its original working title was “The Brook”.

To purchase go to: http://www.schoolofpiping.com/shop/beginners_publications.html

Upcoming events: R U Brown Piobaireachd Society of SA Inc.

Whilst in Adelaide in 1972, Bob Brown repeatedly expressed a wish that we should regularly come together and play, not in the spirit of competition, but just to listen and enjoy all types and levels of pipe music. The Society now regularly meets to fulfil his wish.

Meetings

The Society holds regular meetings on the first Friday of the month. Meetings are held at the Prospect RSL, Wilcox Ave, Prospect SA commencing at 7:30PM. At meeting nights, pipers are able to play both piobaireachd and light music to those in attendance, or alternatively just come along for a listen. Entrance is a gold coin donation towards the supplied supper. Everyone is welcome to attend and take advantage of some excellent piping and the friendly atmosphere.

Coming Events

6th March Recital Night 27th March Ernest Dowler Competition 9th May 2020 Gold Medal Piobaireachd Competition and Recital 5th June Recital Night 5th July Piping in the Park Recital Afternoon 7th August Recital Night 22nd August Port Adelaide Caledonian Society Competition 4th September Recital Night and AGM

Coming Tutorials

10th May Tutorial ALL EVENTS CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO COVID-19

Full details for events and tutorials to be found at www.rubrown.org.au

NOW available from: The school of Piping Shop

CLASSIFIED ADS To make use of this service contact us at: [email protected]

FOR SALE: A new extended medium Canmore Hybrid – 4 Collar/Zip pipe bag. The bag comes supplied with a jubilee clip, O ring, tape, zip lubricant and a moisture control tube. The bag is guaranteed for a period of 2 years from the date of purchase, January 21, 2021, and seller will provide the invoice for proof of purchase.

Price is $120.00 for pickup (Noarlunga Downs SA) or $130.00 Express Post. Posting within Australia only.

Contact [email protected] to be referred to the seller.

PAST EDITIONS: Past editions of Gone Piping Magazine can be downloaded from: http://www.schoolofpiping.com/shop/advanced_publications.html